Self Indulgence

There was a time, when vicars, elders and assorted priests had a role in society and pleasuring oneself was considered a sin, when a bit of self-indulgence was thought to lead to blindness and/or paralysis! Not true, folks! J and I are living proof that a little of what you fancy does you good. Repression leads to all sorts of strange hang-ups, as my mother could have confirmed were she not ‘bereft of life’! This chap has been caught early as his eyesight has only just started to dim!

before you rush to order, this is a spoof ad – I know, I checked it out!

So, onwards and upwards – things can only get better! Having had a few weeks of feeling the need to be around because of the geothermal drilling business (see here, and here) in the overwhelming heat at this time of year plus dealing with some residence permit issues (who hasn’t had those!), we needed to indulge our inner and outer selves and escape to the tranquility of the mountains. There is something about being pretty much alone and surrounded by a world much bigger and wider than those irritations that tend to seem so large at the time – somehow, they just melt away – at least temporarily.

We didn’t want to spend much time on the road and so we decided to head for Girdev Lake and spend a couple of days at the Girdev Camp owned by İlhan and İnci Kurt. Situated 1800mts above sea-level the lake is always beautiful and at this time of year the herders will be there with their sheep and the environment should be wild with life! We were not to be disappointed. Whilst there we also met a young woman named Raz who woke up one morning in her native Cornwall and said, ‘Raz, old girl! You are at a crossroads in your life – why not take a walk to Istanbul.’ (or words to that effect) So she did! Read her intermittent blog. Then she bought a bike and cycled off and ended up at Girdev Camp for a while. Where next Raz?

Day one it rained cannonballs for a bit, but mostly the sun shone, the clouds were fluffy and the air was like champagne!

raining . .

. . cannonballs!

Girdev is a bit like the wilderness with the edges rubbed off – sufficiently off the beaten track to discourage the casual visitors and yet close enough for those willing to trash their tyres if needs must (of which more later)! How long it is going to remain free of mass tourism is open to question because the machines are out in force scraping and rolling in preparation for asphalt. Will they go all the way? It looks very likely. Add in the electricity that is now there and the hopefulless business ventures lining the side of the road won’t be far behind.

Anyway, whilst it lasts, let’s make the most of it and enjoy the wonders! Here’s one that left me amazed – countless billions (not a typo) of Erythromma viridulum – Small Red-Eyed Damselflies everywhere. I have never seen anything like it!

Erythromma viridulum – Small Red-Eyed Damselfly (female l. male r.)

. . and then there were these:

Ochlodes venatus – Large Skipper

Melanargia russiae – Russian Marbled White

. . and then there are the mountains:

with ancient Junipers

. . and a mosque in the middle of nowhere

a lesson in cheese making from a local expert

. . and lunch with delightful goatherders

. . who live down there

Some random flower pics:

final view of Girdev Lake

So, what do you think, folks – splendid, or what?

Alan Fenn, Okçular Köyü

ps when we got back down from Girdev and on to a bit of tarmac we realised we’d probably been driving for miles on a flat rear tyre. It was utterly trashed! The inside and outside walls were ripped like this all around! In the nearby little town the ‘Lastikci’ dug-out a nearly new replacement for the spare, checked everything over – 100 TL/£25 – job jobbed!

pps for those of you who have been totally enthralled by this scintillating post, here’s a link to an earlier expedition with a certain professor who shall remain nameless to protect his reputation!

Splendid indeed. Congratulations on chasing those nasty developers away. And don’t get me on the subject of ‘self abuse’. Back in the evolving Seventies, one of my teachers told a classroom of sweaty pubescent boys that masturbation made you go blind. Well, it almost caused a riot!Jack Scott recently posted..Lordy, Lordy!

‘Splendid’ is an understatement. Favorite photos were of the damsel flies – your photos are just getting more and more beautiful and artistic – congratulations! And on top of everything else, you paid only 100 TL to get your trashed tire replaced! Sounds like you had a well-deserved blast.seniordogsabroad recently posted..The Mask Slips

Beautiful photographs….and what a place to visit…though I hope that those who made their living there from herding won’t become obliged to make it from selling tourist tat on the roadside if it all becomes more accessible.Helen Devries recently posted..Liberty

the tat and rubbish and ‘ugly’ seems to be guaranteed by-products of ‘tourism’ – Girdev is still pristine, no plastic/rubbish to be seen. With a bit of luck the winter storms and land-slides will wash the tarmac away.Alan recently posted..Holy Ground

Oh wow, I remember your last post about Girdev and can’t believe we’ve still not made it. Might have to take the tent up there very soon if it is getting more ‘smooth around the edges.’ Guessed it might be cos they’ve got an office in Fethiye where you can book trips up there. Not sure how popular they are but the signs are there…
Great set of photos by the way. 🙂
JuliaTurkey’s For Life recently posted..Güven’s Bar & Restaurant – Our Take